March 3, 2015, Charleston, SC. McPherson HomeMeanwhile, back in Charleston, Laura and Leanne study a painting above the McPherson"s fireplace with an uncanny resemblance to Nyla and Tara—a young African-American woman with hazel eyes, reddish-brown hair, dressed in a simple ivory dress that belongs to another era. Her eyes sparkle warmly as if pleased with what she sees.
“Is this Nyla?” Leanne asks.
Tara turns and glances at the painting. “No, Anna Cox.”
“I"ve never seen this painting before,” Leanne murmured. Moving closer, she runs her finger along the artist"s initials—NC. A young man studying his subject fondly flashes in her mind. “I don"t remember this painting being here.”
“No, you wouldn"t. Nyla just hung it recently. She started pulling artwork from the attic after she"d revea
